1-5 External marketing and communications


Area of focus 1 Institutional readiness
Criterion 1-5 Marketing and communications 
Main statement

What mechanisms are in place to market WBL courses/programmes and  are there communications mechanisms to engage external stakeholders and to staff involved in WBL? 

Self assessment guidelines
  • An Institutional WBL Marketing Strategy is  in place and provides a framework within which annual Institutional  School/Faculty marketing plans are developed and monitored.
  • Alumni  are identified as a potential market segment for development
  • An effective internal communications mechanism is in place to support communications and updating for all staff. Internal stakeholders?1.3 ? CoP
  • Communications between all stakeholders supports reflective practice and continuous improvement.
  • Communications with external stakeholders is supported and co-ordinated to ensure a balance between consistent thoughtful messages and local autonomy.
  • Course information advertising standards (XCRI-CAP) are used to collate course information and to produce marketing materials.
  • Course information in written in an appropriate language for employers and  employees to understand.  
Evidence to look for
  • Marketing strategy and institutional/local marketing plans exist.
  • Some central Marketing activity targets employers directly and any local marketing  initiatives  are coherently  co-ordinated with institutional WBL marketing
  • Good quality information and resources are publically available to help employers and learners to understand how WBL provision differs from more familiar course-based provision .
  • Standards of customer service eg.enquiry response times have been identified and performance is monitored.
  • There is a central database of  WBL learning courses for marketing
  • The information is held in a standardised format (XCRI-CAP)
  • Faculties and central marketing teams work together
  • There is  one or more dedicated website/portal aimed at engaging employers.
  • There is a link on the main web page that leads to “useful” information for employers and employees. 
Further info and examples